How Did A Bengaluru Woman Win 9 Lakh Rupees Only By Sleeping?

Saishwari Patil, an investment banker from Bengaluru, has won a prize of ₹9 lakh simply for sleeping. Saishwari's victory comes from her participation in the ‘Sleep Champion’ title contest organised by the Bangalore-based startup as part of its third season of the sleep internship program. Saishwari's win against 12 other sleep interns turned a common dream into a rewarding reality.

Bengaluru Woman Wins ₹9 Lakh Only By Sleeping

Saishwari revealed that her motivation to enter the sleep competition stemmed from pure curiosity, and she didn't initially intend to win. Her casual decision to apply ultimately led her to the program, where she discovered the significance of deep sleep and became genuinely engaged with the concept.

Saishwari shared insights on maintaining a strict sleep schedule, highlighting the discipline required to be a successful sleeper. She advised, "To achieve a good average score, it’s essential to keep consistent sleep and wake times, which often means reducing late-night activities like binge-watching and scrolling through social media. It can be tough to break these habits, but the rewards are worth it," she noted in an interview with The Hindu.

The sleep internship program by Wakefit aims to help individuals who struggle to prioritise sleep amidst the chaos of modern life and work commitments. Participants were required to sleep for eight to nine hours each night and take an additional 20-minute nap during the day. Each intern was provided with a mattress and a wearable sleep tracker to monitor their sleep patterns. Regular sessions with sleep mentors were also included to help interns optimise their sleep habits and improve their chances of winning the title.

This competition was initiated in response to a growing concern about sleep deprivation among young adults, which is linked to sedentary lifestyles and excessive screen time. Over three seasons, the sleep internship program has attracted over 1 million registrations, employing 51 interns who have collectively earned ₹63 lakh in stipends.